Health & Fitness

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

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The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

The sweet tooth gene

Does the above image get your heart racing a little bit faster? We feel ya. You can blame your parents. Scientists in London have tracked down two variants in some people’s DNA that can make the brain crave junk food more. READ MORE: How to get your best butt ever in 2016

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Sleeping in could cost you

Disrupting sleep patterns – i.e. changing it up for those lazy, long sleep-ins – could cause a rise in the risk of heart disease and diabetes even if you’re active and eat right. READ MORE: Why your 20s s the best time to commit to a fitness routine

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Say no to super-sizing

Science says we are likely to eat and drink more when we nosh on larger plates (or other tableware) and when we are given larger portions. READ MORE: 8 Instagram accounts that inspire us to eat better

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Wearing the colour black can make you feel more confident

A little black dress isn’t just a classic wardrobe piece. The colour is a confidence booster, too, according to a new survey by a British shirt company. They polled 1,000 adults and 56 percent of respondents said the shade “inspires confidence.” READ MORE: The value of a pre-holiday detox

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

A guy that likes you will eat more in front of you

Up to 93 percent more food, according to studies. It’s apparently a biological display of machismo. How romantic. READ MORE: Fat water is now a thing

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Wearing skinny jeans for long periods of time can harm muscles and nerve fibers

The revelation came after a 35-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with numb feet and swollen calves after spending the day squatting and bending (she was helping family members move) while wearing skinny jeans. It's thought the tight jeans (along with the squatting) reduced blood supply and caused nerves to compress. READ MORE: 12 immune-boosting superfoods you need to add to your diet this winter

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Everyone you know is sexting

A survey of 870 participants aged 18 to – brace yourselves – 82, found that 80 percent of people sent explicit messages on their phones in the past year. READ MORE: How to get your best butt ever in 2016

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Our generation will never be as slim as our parents

Canadian researchers compared the eating habits of people from the ‘70s and ‘80s and results suggest that 40-year-olds today have to eat less and work out harder to stay the same weight than those in the 1970s. READ MORE: 10 celebrities who are giving us major fitspo

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

A glass of water before meals can keep the pounds away

Researchers from the University of Birmingham studied obese adults over a 12-week period. Those who drank the water lost an average of 2.87 lbs more than those in the control group. READ MORE: 4 personal trainers you need to follow on Instagram

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

#Foodporn may be contributing to your #lovehandles

When we fixate on Instagram feeds such as David Chang’s-ode-to-everything-that-is-fried-and-delicious, blood flows to the part of the brain where taste sensors hold it down, which makes us feel hungry even when we aren’t in the slightest. READ MORE: 5 tips to conquer any food craving

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Instagram/davidchang

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Coffee could save your life

Harvard scientists found that people who drink no more than five cups of coffee a day (even if it’s decaf) were less likely to die from conditions from heart disease to diabetes. READ MORE: How to commit to a fitness routine in 6 steps

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Scientists are a step closer to creating pills that can mimic exercise

For the first time, researchers in Sydney were able to map the 1,000 molecular changes in the body during workouts. That means they can now create a drug that copies these changes. It sounds a bit creepy but researchers promise this could help people who are physically unable to exercise, but need the benefits. READ MORE: 6 steps to getting a better sleep

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Having an alcoholic beverage before your meal can make you feel hungrier

According to a study from the Indiana University School of Medicine, they found a boozy buzz can cause a part of the brain (the hypothalamus) to perk up when it smells food. The phenomenon has been oh-so-appropriately dubbed the “aperitif effect.” READ MORE: 5 ways to get more mileage out of your fitness tracker

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

People who gulp down diet drinks are more likely to binge on junk food

The theory from the science bods at the University of Illinois is we may feel justified eating more because of the saved beverage calories. READ MORE: 6 luxury gyms that could pass for nightclubs

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: Carli Whitwell
Source: Getty

The 15 most important things we learned about health and fitness in 2015

Saying “thank you” could save your relationship

Lab rats at Georgia University quizzed 468 married people and found that those who showed their appreciation to their spouse were more likely to have successful marriages, even if they were going through some rough patches. READ MORE: 9 facts and fictions are cold and flu season you need to know now